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Muscular atrophy
Muscular atrophy

Muscle aches
Definition:
This is a pain or discomfort involving any muscle(s). See also muscle spasms, and joint pain.

Alternative Names:
Muscle pain; Myalgia; Pain - muscles

Considerations:
Muscle pain is a common complaint. It is most frequently related to overuse or muscle injury due to exercise or physically demanding work. In these situations, the muscle pain tends to involve rather specific muscles or muscle groups, and the cause of the muscle pain is fairly obvious. However, muscle pain can accompany many other conditions such as infectious disease, autoimmune disease, parasitosis, and other problems.

Generalized muscle pain, or myalgia, may be a sign of a systemic illness, and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as joint pain (arthralgia), fever, or general ill feeling (malaise).
Common Causes:
The most common causes are: Muscle pain may also be associated with many disorders.
Autoimmune: Infections/infestations of the muscle: Generalized infections:

Metabolic:

  • Potassium disorders
  • Rhabdomyolysis

Drugs:

  • Cocaine
  • AZT
  • L-tryptophan
  • Hydralazine
  • Clofibrate
  • Simvastatin
  • Lovastatin
  • Cyclosporine
  • Captopril
  • Enalapril
Home Care:
For muscle pain involving a specific part of the body, rest and over-the-counter pain medications are important. Applying ice within the first 24 hours of a muscular injury is also advised. After that -- apply heat.

Muscle aches from overuse and trauma often respond well to massage. Gentle stretching exercises after a rest period are also helpful.

Regular exercise (slowly increased from very gentle to more vigorous) may help restore the proper muscle tone (walking, cycling, and swimming are recommended).

Muscular aches associated with specific diseases are best controlled by treating the primary illness according to instructions given by the health care provider.
Call your health care provider if:
  • The muscle pain persists beyond 3 days.
  • There is severe, unexplained muscle pain.
  • You have muscle pain accompanied by fever (T<101) and a rash.
  • You have muscle pain in a specific area, swelling, and bruising.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your muscle pain in detail may include:
  • When did it start?
  • How long did it last?
  • Is there a pattern to the occurrences?
  • Have you taken any new medications lately?
  • Where is it exactly?
  • Is it all over or only in a specific area?
  • Is it always in the same location?
  • What makes it better or worse?
  • What other symptoms occur at the same time, including:
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
  • Blood studies (such as CBC or blood differential)
  • Invasive neuromuscular tests (such as an EMG)
  • Tests for autoimmune disorders, such as sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, and ANA
  • Lyme disease titers
  • Muscle biopsy (in rare cases)
Physical therapy may be prescribed.

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to myalgia, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.
Review Date: 1/18/2002
Reviewed By: Dr. Sarah Pressman Lovinger, internist at Boston Medical Center in Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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